System and Method for Constraining a Graphical Hand from Penetrating Simulated Graphical Objects

1. A method comprising: determining a set of object haptic boundaries in a virtual haptic space, the set of object haptic boundaries different from a set of object graphical boundaries in a virtual graphical space, the object haptic boundaries and the object graphical boundaries associated with a virtual object; determining a set of device haptic boundaries in the virtual haptic space, the set of device haptic boundaries different from a set of device graphical boundaries in the virtual graphical space, the device haptic boundaries and the device graphical boundaries associated with a physical device; receiving control inputs from the physical device; using the control inputs to cause changes to the set of device haptic boundaries within the virtual haptic space and the set of device graphical boundaries within the virtual graphical space; comparing the set of object haptic boundaries with the set of device haptic boundaries within the virtual haptic space to identify an overlap between the set of object haptic boundaries and the set of device haptic boundaries; and constraining changes to the set of device graphical boundaries within the virtual graphical space when an overlap is identified; and identifying a depth of penetration by determining an amount of overlap of the set of object haptic boundaries with the set of device haptic boundaries.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: using the set of object graphical boundaries to modify the set of device graphical boundaries.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the physical device is a multi-articulate structure and further comprising: modeling the multi-articulate structure using a revolute-joint-link-spring model.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: transmitting a force feedback signal to the physical device when the overlap is identified.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the constrained movement is a flex manifested in a displacement of the set of graphical boundaries relative to an unflexed position thereof.

6. A system comprising: memory configured to store data for a virtual space; and a processor configured to: determine a set of object haptic boundaries in a virtual haptic space, the set of object haptic boundaries different from a set of object graphical boundaries in a virtual graphical space, the object haptic boundaries and the object graphical boundaries associated with a virtual object; determine a set of device haptic boundaries in the virtual haptic space, the set of device haptic boundaries different from a set of device graphical boundaries in the virtual graphical space, the device haptic boundaries and the device graphical boundaries associated with a physical device; receive control inputs from the physical device, use the control inputs to cause changes to the set of device haptic boundaries within the virtual haptic space and the set of device graphical boundaries within the virtual graphical space, compare the set of object haptic boundaries with the set of device haptic boundaries within the virtual haptic space to identify an overlap between the set of object haptic boundaries and the set of device haptic boundaries, and constrain changes to the set of device graphical boundaries within the virtual graphical space when an overlap is identified; wherein the processor is further configured to determine a depth of penetration based on an amount of overlap of the set of object haptic boundaries with the set of device haptic boundaries.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the physical device is a multi-articulated device.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the processor is configured to model the multiarticulated device as a revolute-joint-link spring model.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to constrain changes of the set of device graphical boundaries by computing modified joint and link positions of the virtual device.

10. The system of claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to transmit a force feedback signal to the physical device when the overlap is identified.

11. The system of claim 6 wherein the control inputs include measurements of flexure, translation and rotation of the device.

12. The system of claim 6 wherein the constrained change is a flex manifested in a displacement of the set of device graphical boundaries relative to an unflexed position thereof.

13. A computer readable storage medium containing executable instructions which cause a data processing system to perform a method comprising: determining a set of object haptic boundaries in a virtual haptic space, the set of object haptic boundaries different from a set of object graphical boundaries in a virtual graphical space, the object haptic boundaries and the object graphical boundaries associated with a virtual object; determining a set of device haptic boundaries in the virtual haptic space, the set of device haptic boundaries different from a set of device graphical boundaries in the virtual graphical space, the device haptic boundaries and the device graphical boundaries associated with a physical device; receiving control inputs from the physical device; using the control inputs to cause changes to the set of device haptic boundaries within the virtual haptic space and the set device graphical within the virtual graphical space; comparing the set of object haptic boundaries with the set of device haptic boundaries within the virtual haptic space to identify an overlap between the set of object haptic boundaries and the set of device haptic boundaries; and constraining changes to the set of device graphical boundaries within the virtual graphical space when an overlap is identified; and identifying a depth of penetration by determining an amount of overlap of the set of object haptic boundaries with the set of device haptic boundaries.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , further comprising: using the set of object haptic boundaries to modify the set of device graphical boundaries.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the physical device is a multi-articulate structure and further comprising: modeling the multi-articulate structure using a revolute-joint-link-spring model.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , further comprising: transmitting a force feedback signal to the physical device when the overlap is identified.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the constrained change is a flex manifested in a displacement of the set of device graphical boundaries relative to an unflexed position thereof.